Over the years, there has been a growing pressure to become more and more eco-friendly and to make greener choices. If experts are to be believed, then the world is heading for a full-blown electric vehicle revolution. Every dealership has them. You should check out the Volvo dealer in Arizona for reasonably priced ones.
Many of the practical reasons for not buying electric cars, like battery range and charging issues, have been addressed and it is now easier today to think about buying an electric car than it ever has been.
The history of electric vehicles goes back to the creation of the motor car. The internal combustion engine however took off before the electric engine. It was more convenient and easier to fuel through the thriving coal industries. Electric is gaining momentum as a mainstream power source for cars though. Whilst pure electric cars still only make up a small percentage of those sold year to year, there has been a dramatic rise in sales of hybrids over the past couple of years.
But are electric cars the way forward for you? It can be hard to decide but here are a few options to consider when you are thinking about buying a new car.
Pros
Zero emissions
The immediate and large attraction to buying an electric vehicle is the green side of driving a vehicle like this. Every mile you do in an electric car is an emission free mile. The electric vehicle system operates on a closed loop. This means that the battery drives the electric motor and powers the electrics on board without the production of waste material.
The only concern you should have is the pollution caused by the charging of the vehicle. The emissions caused by your vehicle will be lost in the national grid. If your area of the national grid is powered by a renewable source, then you are okay. If not, then you will be contributing to the emissions released. Though no more than if you stayed on petrol or diesel.
Buying incentives
While electric cars are slightly more expensive when compared to petrol and diesel cars, some governments are offering you incentives to get you to take home that electric car. This applies to both pure electric cars as well as hybrids. It is always worth looking at any government grants that are in your area to see if you can save some big bucks on a new eco-friendly car. These incentives are often offered as up-front sums to pay for the car or packages to help you with costs of adjustment.
Low running costs
One of the biggest sales points for electric vehicles is the low cost of daily running. It is significantly lower than petrol or diesel, especially these days as these prices keep rising and rising. If you have the space and availability, you can charge your car overnight at home. It will usually get you through a full day’s drive. The cost should only be a few dollars which is a huge saving when compared to diesel prices.
This cost will vary depending on how, when and where you charge. If you need to go to an actual pump to charge your car then the cost will be slightly more expensive. It will still be significantly cheaper than using a fossil fuel energy source though.
Comfort
One of the first things new buyers of electric cars notice is that the motor doesn’t make any noise. It is only a faint whirring noise. You will only need to deal with the noise from your tyres, the wind and the road. This allows you to listen out for any other problems that your car might have. In fact some electrical vehicles are so quiet that some engineers are fitting sound generators for the safety of pedestrians and other road users.
The cons
Charging
The largest drawback to owning an electric car is having to charge it up. Every electric vehicle is sold with a traditional domestic plug that can charge it up via your mains electricity. This will take some time and so you would have to do this overnight. Many firms have begun to offer fast-charging wall boxes for free when you make your purchase. This is quicker but you will need to find somewhere to attach it.
Another consideration you have to think about is if you are going on a long journey then you may struggle to find somewhere to charge your car. It will not be as easy as just stopping at a petrol station and filling up.
Battery charging time
Drivers have become used to the ease of filling up their car with petrol and getting on their merry way. This is not the case for electric vehicles. You will need to factor in charging time for your car if you are charging up outside of your home. However, this should not put you off too much as it merely asks you to change your habits. As long as you remember to charge your car up overnight then you should be okay
Range
As previously mentioned, the range that your battery can take you is a limiting factor. You may not be able to get to where you want to go. You also may need to rethink your driving holiday. Current estimations suggest that your standard electric vehicle has a range of 150-200 miles though this is always increasing. You just need to plan ahead and make sure you can charge your car every time you park.
Electric vehicles
As time goes on the pressure to buy electric cars is starting to mount. There is no question that they are better for the environment and as they become more popular the price will come down. They are very close to silent vehicles and are setting the trends for how cars should be.
However, they also come with their own drawbacks. They take time to charge and require actual charging points. If you are planning a long journey, then you need to research charge points and you may need to charge more often than you would like. However, with government grants, electric cars may be the way forward.